The business has been offering colour alteration services to match-up brick, stone, masonry and mortar since 1968, using a specially-developed weathering tint which can change the colour of a brick permanently without having to replace it.

Now the firm has joined forces with Shropshire brick supplier Imperial Bricks which has signed a co-branding agreement to sell Bebbingtons weathering tint.

The product, which was developed by the company’s founder George Bebbington, will be sold as a complimentary product to Imperial's own range of handmade bricks.

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The partnership is part of efforts by Bebbingtons to expand the manufacturing side of the business and grow sales to small builders and homeowners.

Simon Morley, business development manager at Bebbingtons, said: “We sell quite a lot of tint to builders merchants across the UK, but now we want to increase sales to the public. We want people to come to us for the product but it’s hard to sell something that people don’t know a lot about.

“It can be applied like paint, it’s not a new process but it’s a process that not many people know about.”

“We are selling thousands of bottles of tint but we want to sell tens of thousands and now we’ve linked up with a Imperial Brick to help us do that."

Pictured: Company founder George Bebbington with son Mark Bebbington and grandson Mark Bebbington Junior.

He added: “We want people to start using the product themselves, it is possible. But if they can’t do it or they need help then we are here to do it for them.

“We are one of the only companies that can supply the product and apply it as well, and I think that is something that will help us going forward.”

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Simon said: “We are very pleased to be working with the KRISP scheme. At no cost whatsoever to us, we have access to 200 hours of graduate research and support from a couple of high-calibre students who are really excited to be working with us.”

He added: “Like the rest of the construction industry, our major challenge is that skilled staff are in short supply, so recruiting and retaining good people remains a struggle, but we’re keen to hear from anybody, including female candidates, interested in learning the art of masonry tinting.”

LEP chairman David Frost is now urging other small businesses to contact the LEP for support.

He said: “Small businesses such as Bebbington Brick are the backbone of the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire economy and services such as our Business Helpline and Growth Hub are vital in helping them to grow and flourish.

“Our key LEP objectives include creating an enterprise culture which encourages innovation and develops skills, and helping to foster a supportive environment for start-ups and growing businesses.”